A couple of hours passed surprisingly quickly.
Most of that time was spent answering Ellie's endless silent questions about the world outside the lab and helping her settle in.
After she'd taken a quick shower, during which she refused to let me close the bathroom door, forcing me to stand guard outside until she was done, I led her back into my bedroom.
"There's one more thing," I said with a smile. "You can't keep wearing that hoodie and my PE clothes."
Ellie instinctively pulled the oversized hoodie tighter around herself, savouring its warmth after being so cold for so long. Judging by the way she held onto it, she probably thought I was going to take it back.
I walked over to my wardrobe and slid the doors open.
Rows of dresses, T-shirts, jumpers, and jeans filled my wardrobe.
She froze.
Her eyes slowly wandered over every piece of clothing.
She didn't reach for anything.
She simply stared.
It took me a second to realise why.
She'd probably never chosen her own clothes before.
As far as the lab was concerned, she'd be wearing a hospital gown for the rest of her life. It was probably the only thing she'd ever worn.
I stepped aside.
"You can choose whatever you like."
She looked at me.
"…Me?"
"Your choice."
She hesitated, almost as if she expected me to change my mind.
When I didn't, she slowly stepped closer.
Instead of grabbing something straight away, she carefully brushed her fingertips over the different fabrics, stopping every now and then to feel them.
Eventually, her hand came to rest on a simple yellow dress.
She carefully lifted it from the hanger and held it against herself.
Then she looked at me, silently asking what I thought.
"I think yellow suits you."
A tiny smile appeared on her face.
"…Yellow?"
"Yellow," I repeated with a nod.
She hugged the dress a little tighter.
"There."
I smiled.
"Now it's yours."
She looked up at me.
"…Mine?"
"All yours."
She blinked.
"I want you to have it."
She tilted her head.
"…Why?"
"Because it's a present."
"…Present?"
"A present is a gift," I explained. "It's something you give someone to make them happy."
I smiled warmly.
"So… consider it a gift to celebrate the day we met."
She looked down at the yellow dress in her arms.
Very carefully, she ran her hand over the fabric.
"…Mine," she whispered, almost as though she couldn't quite believe it.
For a moment, I simply watched her.
I wasn't sure anyone had ever given her something that truly belonged to her before.
I pointed towards the bathroom.
"You can get changed in there."
A few minutes later, the bathroom door creaked open.
Ellie stepped out hesitantly.
The yellow dress reached just below her knees and was a little loose around the shoulders, but it fit her well enough.
She looked down at herself before smoothing the skirt with both hands.
"…Pretty?" she asked quietly.
I smiled.
"Very pretty."
She looked back down at the dress.
Then, almost shyly…
She gave the skirt the tiniest little twirl.
The fabric flared around her legs.
She watched it with wide-eyed fascination before looking back up at me.
This time, her smile came easily.
For the first time since escaping the lab…
She looked like an ordinary little girl.
I picked up the coat I'd given her earlier and held it out to her.
"Here, wear this too," I said. "That dress isn't very warm. This will help keep you warm, and if you ever need to, it can help hide your identity."
Ellie slipped the coat on.
Although we were about the same height, the coat hung just a little looser on her.
Not because it was too big.
Because years of malnutrition had left her painfully thin.
The coat softened the outline of her frail frame, making her look like any other little girl bundled up against the cold instead of a child who had escaped from a laboratory.
She looked down at herself before fastening the coat.
"…Warm," she said quietly.
I smiled.
"Much better."
I reached over and affectionately ruffled her hair.
She tilted her head, looking at me in confusion.
I burst into laughter.
This child was just too cute.
Before I could explain, I heard the front door open downstairs.
My heart skipped a beat.
I glanced at the clock.
Dad and Lucas shouldn't be home yet.
Which meant there was only one possibility.
Mum.
Ellie's head immediately turned towards the bedroom door.
I stood up.
"You need to stay here."
She looked at me uncertainly.
"No powers. No noise."
I glanced towards the wardrobe.
"If someone comes upstairs before I get back, hide in there."
She followed my gaze before giving a small nod.
"I'll be back in a minute."
I slipped out of my bedroom and quietly closed the door behind me.
As I reached the bottom of the stairs, Mum was taking off her coat.
She looked exhausted.
Her eyes were red, as though she'd spent the last hour trying not to cry.
The moment she saw me, her expression softened.
"Oh, sweetheart…"
She hurried over and knelt in front of me.
"I need to tell you something."
Oh.
I instantly knew what she was trying to say.
"I know," I said quietly.
"You know?"
She frowned.
"What do you mean you know?"
"The police came to school."
Realisation crossed her face.
"Oh…"
For a second, neither of us spoke.
Then she pulled me into a tight hug.
"Oh, my darling…"
She stroked my hair as I buried my face against her shoulder.
"They'll find him," she whispered. "Everything will be all right."
I closed my eyes.
Because what if something had changed because of my actions? What if the stupid butterfly effect had kicked in, and Will ended up dying because of me?
It would be my fault.
No.
You can't think like that.
Everything will be all right.
You've planned every single detail.
You've been preparing for this for months.
I'll save him.
But that means I'll have to leave tonight.
Into the Upside Down.
A hellish dimension crawling with monsters under Vecna's control.
I shivered.
I hugged Mum back a little tighter.
"I hope so," I whispered.
She gently pulled away, cupping my cheeks in her hands.
"Have you eaten anything?"
I blinked.
"…What?"
"You've had a horrible day."
She offered me a tired smile.
"I was thinking of making something warm."
Panic shot through me.
Food.
Ellie.
I'd promised Ellie I'd be back quickly.
"Actually…" I forced a yawn. "I'm not really hungry."
She gave me a sceptical look.
"Erica Sinclair refusing food? Now I know something's wrong."
Normally, I'd have fired back with some sarcastic comment.
Today I just shrugged.
"I'm tired."
She sighed softly.
"I suppose we all are."
For a moment, she simply looked at me.
The exhaustion in her eyes made her look years older.
"You know…" she said quietly. "Joyce came by the church earlier."
I looked up.
"She did?"
Mum nodded.
"Most of the town was there. Everyone's organising search parties."
My stomach tightened.
"They're looking everywhere."
Not everywhere.
No one was looking where Will actually was.
"I told her your dad and I would help tomorrow if…" Her voice faltered. "…if they still haven't found him."
She reached out and gently took both of my hands.
"But, Erica… we don't know why he disappeared." Her expression turned serious. "Promise me you won't go looking for him."
I lowered my eyes.
"The police are already talking about setting a curfew. I don't want you wandering around. Just go to school and come straight home, all right?"
She squeezed my hands a little tighter.
"I don't know what your father and I would do if something happened to you or Lucas too."
The fear in her voice made my chest ache.
"…I promise," I lied quietly.
Sorry for lying to you, Mum.
Sorry for worrying you.
But I'm the only one who can do this.
By tomorrow, you'll probably be so worried and angry that, even if I make it back alive, I'll be grounded for the rest of my life.
And if you knew what I was actually planning to do tonight…
I wouldn't need to worry about the demogorgons killing me.
You'd probably do it yourself.
She let out a weary sigh and rubbed her forehead.
"I should probably start dinner before your father gets home."
"Mum…"
She looked back at me.
"I think I'll stay in my bedroom for the rest of the evening."
A flicker of concern crossed her face.
"I just… really want to be alone right now."
I forced a small smile.
"Could you tell Dad and Lucas I won't be coming down for dinner? I'll talk to everyone tomorrow."
I hesitated before quietly adding,
"Just… please?"
Her expression softened immediately.
"Of course, sweetheart."
She reached over and gently squeezed my shoulder.
"You don't have to explain anything."
She gave me a reassuring smile.
"I'll tell them."
I let out a small breath of relief.
"Thank you."
"I'll leave you to it. Just… try to get some rest, sweetheart."
"I will."
She leaned down and kissed the top of my head before walking towards the kitchen.
I waited.
One second.
Two.
Three.
The sound of cupboard doors opening echoed through the house.
Only then did I let out the breath I'd been holding.
I hurried upstairs two steps at a time.
As soon as I slipped back into my room and quietly locked the door, Ellie emerged from the wardrobe.
She looked at me with wide, worried eyes.
"…Bad?"
I shook my head.
"No."
I smiled reassuringly.
"We're still safe."
For now.